Princess Marinette Snow White is outside in the orchard. She smiles and hums a tune to herself.  She sees a young man on a white horse approach her. She has no idea who he might be or why his presence makes her nervous. What brings him here?      

        "Who are you?"  She demands to know.

       "It is Prince Adrien Agreste, I come from a faraway off, " He tells her.

        "Well, then prince, Adrien what is it you seek?" She asks.

         "I seek a fair maiden, one I have only before seen in my dreams," He answers.

            The princess thinks that is the silliest thing she has ever heard.  To her, it sounds rather strange that he should try to find someone he dreams about since everyone knows dreams hardly ever come true.

        "Sorry to tell you this, but the reality is much more than the dream," She says.

         The prince has no idea what she means only that he has never heard someone speak to him in such a way before now. He is amazed by her and wishes to find out more about this woman who stands in front of him.  

       "Your highness, does this young man trouble you?"  Juleka asks.  She notices Marinette does appear to smile more around him, but how is she to know he is not a threat?

          "Highness?  What you are a royal as well?" Prince Adrien asks with his jaw dropped in surprise.

       "Yes, I am the princess who lives in this kingdom.  My father was the king before me, and after his death, I was to take over the throne.  Only my wicked stepmother made herself queen, and she wished me dead," Marinette tells him.

     "She attempted to do away with me on more than one occasion, but as you can see was unsuccessful,"  Princess Marinette Snow White states.

        "The cruel, late Queen Lila Rossi, to vain to change her name, or acknowledge the kindness of others, she died as a result of her shred plans.  Now, I am rightfully restored to my palace, and the throne,"  The princess explains.

         "Well, then princess, may I ask your name?"  Prince Adrien asks.

        "Yes, prince Adrien, you may, and I will answer kindly,"  She states.

        "My name is Marinette Snow White, but most of my friends call me Mari,"  The princess answers.

       "However, since I am royalty you may call me Princess Marinette Snow White,"  She blurts out.

        "Alright, Princess Marinette Snow White, I will return home and tell my parents my journey was a lost cause,"  The prince begins to say.

      "Lost cause, oh no dear prince, how can you say this when the princess you seek is alive and well?"  She asks him.

       "You do not need me to rescue you, you are clear of danger, and you seem fine on your own,"  He retorts.

       "True, but say not the search was a lost cause, for you never know what the future brings,"  She replies.

         Prince Adrien kisses the princess, Marinette's hand, then smiles at her.  "Thanks for your friendship then, oh fair, kind princess, Marinette Snow White,"  He says.  Then off he goes away from the castle.  Back on his long journey home with the knowledge that the princess is well.

        As for Princess Marinette Snow White, she laughs and thinks him to be a strange person for a noble that is from a distance away.  She decides she must write to him.  The prince does amuse her so.

         "Ah, he is so charming," Juleka says.

        "You are in love with the prince?"  Princess Marinette Snow White asks. She meant it as more of a rhetorical question than anything else.

         "I think he is cute, but in love, no,"  Juleka replies.

             Meanwhile, the prince travels until he arrives at the palace in his kingdom. His mother and father are furious when he returns empty-handed. They declare him a traitor and he is thrown in the dungeon.  He tries to explain all is well in the other kingdom, but they do not believe him.  His crown is taken from him and given away to another.

         Now, Adrien Agreste is in pain and agony in the lowest part of the place he always called home. He is sad apart from the princess he left in the other place. He wishes to be with her but knows it is impossible. He can not expect her to have him when he is nothing but a lad without a crown.  A boy without a throne or a man without a fortune. He begins to lose hope.

       That evening, the princess is unable to rest.  She tosses and turns.  She gets up with no sleep and tells her servants,  "I most go after him, but if I do not return you know what to do."

       Princess Marinette Snow White heads to the royal stables, climbs on a horse, grabs a satchel, and packs some money inside it. She makes sure to take her sword, a shield, dagger, and a few other essentials too.  She has a long journey ahead of her. She might as well make the most of it. She can only hope when she gets there she will not be too late. 

      Find out more in Chapter  10  The Princess Storms the Other Castle

     -Summer out!